The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-03-17

tlme.-DsSp0tch.
The Riddleberger bill did not question
the legitimacy Of the interest rate On the
original bonds of the State, nor upon the
tax-receivabie coupon bonds issued under
the law of 1871, which carry six per cent,
or of the lQ.4Qs issued under the law of
1879, bearing An average rate of per
cent. Fixing the interest charge at per
cent. in the Riddleberger bill, was the re-
suit of careful study and patient meas
urement of the ability of the people to
pay. In view of the desolation that had
swept oyer the State from 1861 to 1861
the destruction of all personal wealth and
the heavy individual Indebtedness which
pressed upon the people, it was assumed
that per cent. was as much as could be
. lid, as it was known fact that an in
crease of the rate of taxation could not
and would not be borne. 1t was the
amount those who favored the bill be-
lievel the people could and would pay, and
thai 1t was to the interest OF the creditors
to accept that which they could with GER
tainty calculate on getting. With prompt
payment of interest every six months, the
m arket value of the bonds would have
been advanced and sel!dity and reliability
given to the debt the bonds represented.
Tue purpose was to promise no more than
could with certainty be paid.
The last assessment showed an increase
in taxable resources Of over $50, 900, 900,
and when the assessment Of 1890 is made
it will doubtless show an INCREASE OF as
much more. If this be so, it would in
crease the tax basia nearly one third. and
enable US to pay one-third more interest
than is paid in the Riddlebereer calcula-
ii IN. Those who favored the Riddleberger
bill and those who intelligently supported
it when it was irst adopted, believed that
it stated the true debt Of the State. 1T is
an honest and ..defensible statement. and
unless there could be error exposed in its
formulation, the people would not be will,
ing to change it. But the interest rate
WAS measured by the ability to pay, witEs
out assailing the intrinsic justice of the
interest charge in the bonds then in exis
tence. Hence, if the resources Of the
State would justify the payment of high
or rate of interest than per cent, we
would favor it. And as the b9ndholders
have authorized a statement to the effect
that they hre willing to4eomprnmise upon
the basyo of the present assessment and
the present rate of MISUNDERSTANDING for
al the legitimate Expenses of the State
government, including the public Schools
ana accept the annual BALANCE in satisfac-
tion of their demands, we cannot see why
satisfactory arrangement might not be
made with them. At least it presents a
tangible basis upon which to predicate an
effort. With an honest purpose to adjust
the differences and settle the ruinous con-
tention manifested on both sides. we be-
! lieve solution could be reached. At least
it is worth the trial
No Grape was hung on the door of the
Beecher residence. the distinguished and
broad minded divine having always OBJ
jected to the use of the gloomy drapery in
the presence of death. Instead of Grape.
magnificent wreath of flowers hung from
the west side of the doorway at the top
of the stoop, composed Of white and red
roses and lilies of the valley. and tied up
with white satin. We can conceive of
nothing more senseless and affected than
the habit. almost universal of draping the
person and surroundings, where death has
occurred. with forbidding black, as though
there were no CLEAN of hope for the de-
parted. and the thought of the future life
was dark. repulsiye and rayless. Then
the mourning period-a year we believe is
about the average time-during which
sombre garments must envelop the form
and trailing wells advertise the measured
grief of the wearer. This, then, is fol,
lowed by second mourning for stated
time, and then the emblems of normal life
and gaiety are donned. indicating that the
bruised heart has been healed, by stages,
and the shadow has been completely swept
away. There is no sense and no sincerity
in this. 1t is prstense==aHected display
and transparent hypocrisy. 1t is really
more sad to live than to die, if the matter
is seriously considered. If person lives
right--a all tombstones say the departed
have done so-death is not the gateway to
gloom and misery, and there should be no
habillaments worn to indicate that it is
A life of good deeds should cheer the dy-
ing bed and perfume the grave with the
aroma of love and purity and the sweet
incense of eternal hope. 1t 10 a mistaken
MT ion Of do 9TH fo onlohroto ~ Ivy ootopfc
tious garments of black, unless the assur-
ance is given that an existence of misery
and despair is to follow. Wearing NOUN.
ing is habit that would be more honored |
in the breach than the observance, and
christian people, especially, should proceed |
to institute a radical reform IN this re-
spect. Instead. let flowers and evergreeas
and the emblems of hope and JOY be pro.
flsely strewn all around, to indicate |
that death is a release from the pains and |
sufferings of the decaying tenement that |
holds the Immortal spirit.
<
Rev. Mr.. Baxter delivered several lee |
lures last Sunday in Baltimore, telling the |
people that they were near enough to the /
end of the world TO startle them. He pre-
dicted the millennium in l9OO-that in |
1873 France would conquer Germany
that England would lose Ireland and India
that socialism, nihilism and,communism
would spread and eliminate in great hos
tilities and an anti-Christ massacre of
christians during three years. and half.
and that in America the struggle between
capital and labor would reachra condition
as yet unknown, and that the Charleston
was but prenonition of the
earthquakes to come. He referred to the
of Daniel il support of his pre-
diction and illustrated them with paint
ings describing speetaeles in the Book of
such as the white horse ana
his rider.
Bishop Alpheus w. Wilson, of the NJ.